Good things to do for the week ahead

Published 5:22 pm, Thursday, January 16, 2014

Janet McGhee, Artistic Director of the fifteen year old Battenkill Chorale, at rehearsal in Hubbard Hall, on Thurs, Jan. 14, 2010, in Cambridge, NY. (Luanne M. Ferris / Times Union)

Janet McGhee, Artistic Director of the fifteen year old Battenkill Chorale, at rehearsal in Hubbard Hall, on Thurs, Jan. 14, 2010, in Cambridge, NY. (Luanne M. Ferris / Times Union)

Photo: LMF

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 07: Commuters walk through Manhattan's Grand Central train terminal on January 7, 2014 in New York City. A 'polar vortex' of frigid air centered on the North Pole dropped temperatures to a record low 4 degrees in New York City. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 461540731 less

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 07: Commuters walk through Manhattan's Grand Central train terminal on January 7, 2014 in New York City. A 'polar vortex' of frigid air centered on the North Pole dropped temperatures ... more

Photo: John Moore

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Still image from the documentary film "American Made Movie"

Still image from the documentary film "American Made Movie"

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Still image from the documentary film "American Made Movie"

Still image from the documentary film "American Made Movie"

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Charles Ross stars in the 60-minutes-long "One Man Lord of the Rings" (Courtesy the artist)

Charles Ross stars in the 60-minutes-long "One Man Lord of the Rings" (Courtesy the artist)

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Charles Ross stars in the 60-minutes-long "One Man Lord of the Rings" (Courtesy the artist)

Charles Ross stars in the 60-minutes-long "One Man Lord of the Rings" (Courtesy the artist)

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Stephanie Tanaka and Rozara Sanders in Ghent Playhouse's production of "My Cousin Rachel," from Friday, January 24, 2014, through February 9, 2014. (Ghent Playhouse)

Stephanie Tanaka and Rozara Sanders in Ghent Playhouse's production of "My Cousin Rachel," from Friday, January 24, 2014, through February 9, 2014. (Ghent Playhouse)

Good things to do for the week ahead

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CLASSICAL MUSIC

Janet McGhee knows how to program compelling concerts for the Battenkill Chorale. Today's season-opener includes "Sunrise Mass" for chorus and strings by the Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, and "Northern Lights" for chorus, tuned water glasses and hand bells by Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds. Also on the bill are Russian liturgical works by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and Chesnokov. 3 p.m. today, Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs. $15. 692-7458

Love and loss are in the air in "Almost, Maine." The play, written by John Cariani, is set in the mythical town of Almost. The town's residents find themselves falling in and out of love on a cold, clear, moonless night. And the way they go about it is unexpected and sometimes quite funny. The Circle Theatre Players production is directed by Cheryl Charbonneau. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $10-$16. Sand Lake Center for the Arts, 2880 State Route 43, Averill Park. 674-2007; http://www.slca-ctp.org

In "My Cousin Rachel," the cousin of a rich English lord suspects the lord's new wife murdered him for his money. But things change when cousin Philip returns to England, hoping to inherit the lord's possessions, and falls in love with Rachel, the lord's widow. But is Rachel all she seems? The Ghent Playhouse kicks off a two-week run of the play, based on the book by Daphne du Maurier, this week. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $10-$18. Ghent Playhouse, 6 Town Hall Place, Ghent. 392-6264; http://www.ghentplayhouse.org

Canadian actor Charles Ross isn't daunted by J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The actor-comedian plays as many as 45 roles in his "One Man Lord of the Rings" performance, all in one hour. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 1:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $25. Proctors, 432 State St., Schenectady. 346-6204; http://www.proctors.org

FILM

Anyone can make a difference by thinking American before buying. That's one of the messages in "American Made Movie," a documentary that showcases American business success stories and the positive impact manufacturing jobs have on national and local economies. A screening will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by retired WRGB-TV news anchor Jack Aernecke and featuring local and statewide business representatives. Proceeds benefit YouthBuild Schenectady. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. $5. Proctors, 432 State St., Schenectady. 225-0957; http://www.proctors.org

FAMILY FUN

It's free to get in the Albany Institute of History & Art on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Kids and families can see the museum's Egyptian mummies and view exhibits such as "Big and Bold: Contemporary Paintings, Collage and Sculpture from the Albany Institute's Collection." The museum's Lego Challenge will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; a $5 registration fee is required. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday. Free. Albany Institute of History & Art, 125 Washington Ave., Albany. 463-4478; http://www.albanyinstitute.org